Solenoid switch having axially movable core armature and radial stationary contacts



June 1964 w. E. BELLER ETAL 3,13

SOLENOID SWITCH HAVING AXIALLY MOVABLE CORE ARMATURE AND RADIAL STATIONARY CONTACTS Flled Jan. 50, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet l loA 92 \o'L JNVENTOR.

wuasn-r E). BELLER F 2 YEuwm A. STROWSKI A-r-rcnNav June 30, 1964 w. E. BELLER ETAL 3,139,496

SOLENOID SWITCH HAVING AXIALLY MOVABLE CORE ARMATURE AND RADIAL STATIONARY CONTAC T5 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 30, 1961 INVE WmeeR-r E.B Lu:

8 Eowm A-Os1Rowsm ATTORNEY June 30, 1964 w BELLER ETAL 3,139,496

SOLENOID SWITCH HAVING AXIALLY MOVABLE CORE ARMATURE AND RADIAL STATIONARY CONTACTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 50, 1961 m-b9 Redo INVENTOR. Wmaaar E. SELLER EDWIN A.Os-rRowsK| BY 5 H Z FUc-M'Z ATTORNEY United States Patent I O SOLENOID SWITCH HAVING AXIALLY MOVABLE CORE ARMATURE AND RADIAL STATIONARY CONTACTS Wilbert E. Beller, Park Ridge, and Edwin A. Ostrowslri, Mount Prospect, 11]., assignors to Controls Company of America, Schiller Park, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 30, 1961, Ser. No. 85,738 11 Claims. (Cl. 200-111) This invention relates to improvements in a solenoid actuated switch.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a switch structure which affords a high degree of flexibility and switch capability at relatively low cost and small size.

Another object is to provide a combination switch and solenoid assembly wherein each part of the combination can be subassembled as a unit for separate testing prior to final assembly.

Another object is to provide a switch which can be readily adapted for either plug-in connection with a socket or direct electrical connection with a printed circuit.

Other objects are to provide a solenoid switch having a relatively small number of easily assembled parts arranged to provide a rugged unit which is substantially free from any undesirable vibration or A.C. hum and which provides a self-cleaning action at the contacts.

The solenoid actuated switch of this invention includes a switch means which can be subassembled as a unit and a solenoid actuator mounted on the switch and adapted to actuate the moving parts thereof. The switch means includes a switch housing having a central cavity and a plurality of blades mounted in radial grooves around the periphery of the cavity. At least two of the blades have contact portions which extend inwardly towards the center of the cavity.

A carrier member is mounted for reciprocal movement in the cavity and has at least one wiper contact mounted thereon. Each wiper contact has a pair of spring arms adapted to move in and out of contact with the contact portions of the blades to make and break a circuit between a pair of blades as the carrier is reciprocated in the cavity by the solenoid actuator.

The solenoid includes a coil, a plunger slidably mounted in the coil, and a pair of terminals for the coil. The terminals are adapted to make electrical connection with a pair of blades when the solenoid is mounted on the switch housing to complete the assembly of the unit.

The blades have terminal portions thereon which extend through openings in the switch housing for plug-in electrical connection to the circuits to be controlled by the switch and to a source of electricity for energizing the solenoid. If it is desired to use the switch with a printed circuit board, coil springs can be mounted on the blade terminals to thereby adapt the terminals for electrical connection to such a printed circuit board.

Other objects and advantages will be pointed out in, or be apparent from the specification and claims, as will obvious modifications of the single embodiment shown in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a solenoid actuated switch embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken along lines 33 and 44 of-FIG. 2, respectively;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the switch shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the switch housing with all internal parts removed;

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FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 6 with a switch contact blade and wiper arm shown in dotted lines;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of a normally open switch contact blade;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of a normally closed switch contact blade;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of a coil contact blade;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the wiper contact carrier with part of the inner retaining washer broken away;

FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of the wiper contact carrier;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of a wiper contact;

FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of a wiper contact; and

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line 1515 of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIG. 2 shows the assembled unit which comprises a switch assembly 10 and a solenoid actuator 12 mounted thereon. As will be described in detail hereinafter, switch 10 and solenoid 12 can be subassernbled as complete operating units to permit separate testing of the switch and solenoid prior to final assembly.

The switch assembly 10 includes an insulating housing 14 of substantially cylindrical shape having a central cavity 16 and a pair of mounting ears 18. As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of radial grooves 20 are formed in the vertical side wall of cavity 16 for mounting normally open and normally closed switch contact blades 22 and 24 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, respectively, and for mounting a coil contact blade 26 of the type shown in detail in FIG. 10. Blades 22, 24 and 26 are all provided with terminal portions 28 which extend through openings 30 in the base of the housing for connection with the circuits to be controlled by the switch, in a manner to be described in detail hereinafter. Normally open and closed switch blades 22 and 24, respectively, are provided with silvered contact areas 32 and 34, respectively, which extend radially inwardly toward the axis of the housing for contact with a plurality of movable wiper contacts 36 (FIGS. 13 and 14) mounted on a wiper contact carrier 38 (FIGS. 11 and 12). The particular arrangements and operation of switch blades, coil blades, and wiper contacts will be described hereinafter.

Carrier 38 is of substantially cylindrical shape and has a plurality of radial grooves 40 formed in the side wall thereof for mounting wiper contacts 36. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, each wiper contact 36 is comprised of a pair of vertical spring arms 42 having silvered contact portions 44 thereon. Arms 42 are interconnected by a mounting portion 46 having a projection 48 which seats in a cavity 51) formed in the top of carrier 38 (FIG. 11). Wiper contacts 36 are held firmly in place on carrier 38 by a retaining washer 52 and rivet 54.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the wiper contact and carrier assembly is slidably mounted in the switch housing cavity 16 and biased upwardly therein by a carrier actuator spring 56 which extends into a cavity 58 formed in the bottom of the carrier and is centered by an axial projection 60 formed on the bottom of housing cavity 16. The wiper contact and carrier assembly is retained in the switch housing 14 to complete the switch assembly by means of an outer retaining ring 62 fastened in place on the top of the housing by pins 64, 64 (FIG. 3). An intermediate washer 65 is provided to hold the upper ends of the contact blades in place in grooves 21 As shown clearly in FIG. 4, the position of carrier 38 in cavity 16 is accurately maintained by means of a tongue 66 formed on the carrier which registers with a groove 68 formed in the cavity wall. It will be noted (FIG. 4) that the wall portions between grooves 20 and 40 of housing 14 and carrier 38 are aligned so as to provide separate enclosed areas for each blade and wiper arm to thus preventarcing between adjacent parts. As clearly shown in FIG. 7, wiper arms 42 are biased into engagement with and ride on the side walls of cavity 16 when such arms are out of contact with a contact portion 32 or 34. The upper portions of the cavity walls adjacent grooves 29 are cut back as at 69 tocam the spring arms 4-2 into placewhen carrier 38 is inserted into cavity 16.

The solenoid 12 for actuating the wiper contacts includes a coil 70 wound on a bobbin 72 having a central opening 74 therein in which a plunger 76 is slidably mounted for movement'against the bias of a return spring '78 when the coil is energized. The bobbin and coil are mounted in a steel housing 80 and enclosed therein by a coil retaining plate 82 fitted in the lower end of the housing. The coil is energized by means of a pair of plug-in terminal clips 84 which are permanently electrically connected to the coil and extend downwardly therefrom through openings in plate 82. Terminals 8d are comprised of a pair of contact fingers 86 adapted for electrical connection with a pair of contact blades when the switch and solenoid are finally assembledas shown in FIG. 15. After both the solenoid lit) and switch 12 have been separately tested the parts are fastened together by means of a plurality of lugs 88 on casing 8% which are bent inwardly to engage downwardly facing shoulders it? formed on the exterior of the switch housing 14 (FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, plunger return spring 78 is mounted off-center with respect to the axis of coil '70 by means of an opening 92 in plate 32 adapted to receive one end 94 of the spring and retain it in the off-center position. With'the return spring so mounted, plunger '76 will be biased to one side of the bobbin opening '74 to a cooked position to thus reduce vibration (AC. hum) which would otherwise cause noisy operation.

It is apparent from the foregoing that there can be a wide variety of different combinations of contact blades and wiper contacts to provide different switching operations. For purposes of explanation, one such arrangement will now be described in detail.

Referring to FIG. 4 and going clockwise from indexing groove 68, we find a coil contact blade 26 in the first radial groove four (2 pair) of normally open switch blades 22 in the next four radial grooves, nothing in the next radial groove, and a pair of normally closed switch blades 24 in the last two grooves. The wiper blade assembly used with the above described contact blade arrangement is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 and includes a wiper contact 36 mounted for engagement with each pair of adjacent normally open and normally closed switch blades to alternately complete and open electrical circuits between adjacent blades as the carrier is slidably actuated by solenoid 12. 7 With the solenoid mounted on the switch 10 (FIG. 2), one pair of terminal fingers 86 of coil terminals 84 will engage the top of coil blade 26 and the other pair of fingers will engage the top of the normally open switch blade 22 located directly opposite coil blade 26. The force of plunger return spring 78 overrides that of the carrier actuator spring 56 so that with the solenoid l2 deenergized, the carrier will be held in the down position shown in FIG. 2. "In this position the spring arms 42 of one wiper contact 36 make contact with the silvered contact portions 34 of the pair of normally closed contact blades 24 to thus complete a circuit between such adjacent blades.

When coil 75) of the solenoid is energized by applying contact with a switch blade, the arm is deflected into a groove 40 to provide a firm contact pressure. When the solenoid is deenergized, plunger return spring '78 will take over and return the carrier 38 to the FIG. 2 position.

Another feature of this invention is the adaptability of the switch for either plug-in connection with a socket or direct electrical'connection with'a printed circuit. Plugin connection is accomplished by inserting the extending I male terminal ends 23 of the contact blades into asuitable socket (not shown). To adapt the switch for mounting on a printed circuit board (not shown), a plurality of coil compression springs 98 are inserted onto terminals 28 and held thereon by shoulders 1% formedv on the terminals. Springs 98 serve to make electrical connection with the conductive areas of the printed cira high degree of flexibility and switch capability is pro-- vided. It should be noted that each time a contact portion 4 ot a switch arm 42 moves in or out of contact with a contact portion 32 or 34 on a switch blade, the parts are wiped against each other to provide a self-cleaning action at the contacts. As previously explained, both" the switch it and solenoid 12 can be subassembled separately for testing prior to final assembly. When finally assembled the parts are completely enclosed and spring mounted to make the unit substantially free from damage or maladjustment of contacts incident to physical handling and/ or installation. 7

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A switch comprising, a switch housing having a central cavity therein and also including a plurality of elon: gated generally radially disposed grooves, a plurality of elongated rigid switch blades each received in and supported by one of said grooves and including integral contact portions extending inwardly towards the center and v exposed to the interior of said cavity, a carrier member slidably mounted in said cavity for movement parallel to said switch blades, at least one wiper contact mounted on said carrier, said wiper contact having a pair of spring a voltage at the coil terminals 84 (by closing an external 7 arms movable into and out of contact with said contact portions of said blades to make and break a circuit between a pair of blades as said carrier is moved in said cavity, said contact portions on said blades being located at difierent points along the length of said blades to provideboth normally open and normally closed switching.

2. A switch according to claim 1 in which said blades have terminal portions thereon which extend through openings in said switch housing for plug-in electrical connection to the circuits to be controlled by the switch.

3. A switch according to claim 2 in which said terminal portions have coil springs mounted thereon to adapt said terminal portions for electrical connection to a printed circuit board.

4. A switch according to claim 3 in which said terminal portions have a shoulder formed thereon to retain said coil springs thereon. V

.5. A switch comprising, a switch housing having a cen tral cavity therein, a plurality of elongated rigid switch blades mounted in radially extending grooves in said switch housing and positioned around the periphery of a.) said cavity, said blades having contact portions extending inwardly toward the center of said cavity, a carrier member slidably mounted in said cavity for movement parallel to said switch blades and including radially extending grooves formed in said carrier, at least one wiper contact mounted on said carrier, said wiper contact having a pair of spring arms movable into and out of contact with said contact portions of said blades to make and break a circuit between a pair of blades as said carrier is moved in said cavity, said spring arms mounted in the radially extending grooves in said carrier and adapted to deflect into said carrier grooves as they move into contact with said contact portions of said blades, said contact portions on said blades being located at different points along the length of said blades to provide both normally open and normally closed switching.

6. A switch according to claim in which said grooves in said housing and carrier cooperate to form enclosures for each contacting pair of switch blades and spring arms.

7. A solenoid actuated switch comprising, switch means including a switch housing having a central cavity therein, a plurality of blades mounted in said cavity around the periphery thereof, at least two of said blades having contact portions extending inwardly toward the center of said cavity, a carrier member mounted for reciprocal movement in said cavity, at least one wiper contact mounted on said carrier, said wiper contact having a pair of spring arms adapted to move in and out of contact with said contact portions of said blades to make and break a circuit between a pair of blades as said carrier is reciprocated in said cavity; and solenoid actuator means mounted on said switch housing adapted when energized to cause said carrier to move in one direction, said solenoid including a coil, a plunger slidably mounted in said coil, a return spring for said plunger mounted ofi center to bias said plunger toward a cocked position and thereby reduce vibration of said plunger during operation of said solenoid, and a pair of terminals for said coil, said terminals adapted to make electrical connection with a pair of said blades when said solenoid is mounted on said switch housing- 8. A solenoid actuated switch comprising: switch means including a switch housing having a central cavity therein, a plurality of blades mounted in said cavity around the periphery thereof, at least two of said blades having contact portions extending inwardly towards the center of said cavity, a carrier member mounted for reciprocal movement in said cavity, at least one wiper contact mounted on said carrier, an actuator spring for said carrier, said wiper contact having a pair of spring arms adapted to move in and out of contact with said contact portions of said blades to make and break a circuit between a pair of blades as said carrier is reciprocated in said cavity; and a solenoid actuator means mounted on said switch housing adapted when energized to cause said carrier to move in one direction, said solenoid including a coil, a plunger slidably mounted in said coil, a return spring for said plunger, said return spring and the actuator spring for said carrier positioned to bias said plunger and carrier towards each other with the force of said return spring being greater than that of said actuator spring, and a pair of terminals for said coil, said terminals adapted to make electrical connection with a pair of said blades when said solenoid is mounted on said switch housing.

9. A solenoid actuated switch according to claim 8 in which said switch means includes a retaining member for holding said carrier in said switch housing against the bias of said actuator spring so that said switch means can be tested as a separate assembly before final assembly with said solenoid actuator means.

10. A solenoid actuated switch comprising: switch means including a switch housing having a central cavity therein, a plurality of blades mounted in said cavity around the periphery thereof, at least two of said blades having contact portions extending inwardly towards the center of said cavity, a carrier member mounted for reciprocal movement in said cavity, at least one wiper contact mounted on said carrier, said wiper contact having a pair of spring arms adapted to move in and out of contact with said contact portions of said blades to make and break a circuit between a pair of blades as said carrier is reciprocated in said cavity; and a solenoid actuator means releasably mounted on said switch housing adapted when energized to cause 'said carrier to move in one direction, said solenoid including a coil, a plunger slidably mounted in said coil, and a pair of plug-in terminals for said coil, said terminals slidably engaging and making electrical connection with a pair of said blades when said solenoid is mounted on said switch housing.

11. A solenoid actuated switch according to claim 10 in which said blades have terminal portions thereon which extend through openings in said switch housing for plug-in electrical connection to the circuits to be controlled by the switch means and to a source of electricity for energizing said solenoid actuator means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,091,465 Adam et a1. Mar. 24, 1914 1,579,156 Siemann Mar. 30, 1926 2,521,561 Batcheller Sept. 5, 1950 2,813,955 Schelling Nov. 19, 1957 2,886,668 Steward et a1. May 12, 1959 2,917,601 Hatchett Dec. 15, 1959 2,951,133 Davies et a1, Aug. 30, 1960 

1. A SWITCH COMPRISING, A SWITCH HOUSING HAVING A CENTRAL CAVITY THERIN AND ALSO INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED GENERALLY RADIALLY DISPOSED GROOVES, A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED RIGID SWITCH BLADES EACH RECEIVED IN AND SUPPORTED BY ONE OF SAID GROOVES AND INCLUDING INTEGRAL CONTACT PORTIONS EXTENDING INWARDLY TOWARDS THE CENTER AND EXPOSED TO THE INTERIOR OF SAID CAVITY FOR MOVEMENT PARALLEL TO SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID CAVITY FOR MOVEMENT PARALLEL TO SAID SWITCH BLADES, AT LEAST ONE WIPER CONTACT MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIER, SAID WIPER CONTACT HAVING A PAIR OF SPRING ARMS MOVABLE INTO AND OUT OF CONTACT WITH SAID CONTACT PORTIONS OF SAID BLADES TO MAKE AND BREAK A CIRCUIT BETWEEN A PAIR OF BLADES AS SAID CARRIER IS MOVED IN SAID CAVITY, SAID CONTACT PORTIONS ON SAID BLADES BEING LOCATED AT DIFFERENT POINTS ALONG THE LENGTH OF SAID BLADES TO PROVIDE BOTH NORMALLY OPEN AND NORMALLY CLOSED SWITCHING. 